Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2020.FIC.024 |
Object Name |
Insulator |
Title |
Star Porcelain Company Container of Insulators |
Description |
The clear cylindrical container holds 49 porcelain insulators, arranged in four detachable sections. The container itself is characterized by six bumps along its edges, and it is topped with a lid. The insulators inside come in a variety of shapes, including circles, ovals, rectangles, squares, triangles, and cylinders. The majority of these insulators are shades of white, though one insulator in the first section stands out as black, marked with "1965. FLEX. ELEC. 11" in black ink. Other insulators in this section include a cylindrical one with an inscription reading "BIRNBACH. 475," a triangular one marked "I.C.A. U.S.A.," and a cylindrical insulator with the inscription "YELLOW. 9D-1850-1." There is also a circular insulator inscribed with "10385." The second section contains a circular insulator with an embossed "CU," where the "C" is inside the "U," along with a triangular insulator that also bears the "I.C.A. U.S.A." mark. Additionally, there's a rectangular insulator marked with "2." The fourth section contains a square insulator with the inscription "A. B. D. C." Accompanying the item is a note that reads: "VITREOUS ELECTRICAL INSULATING PORCELAIN. THIS illustrates a railway signal base of 'Nu Blac' body and glazed black. This material was developed in order to meet an increasing demand for a material that could take a good uniform black glaze and have high dielectric and mechanical strength. Many manufacturers are now substituting this material for others because it does not show discolorations due to handling in assembly. This material can be molded as easily as our regular white electrical porcelain. Manufactured by THE STAR PORCELAIN COMPANY. TRENTON, NEW JERSEY. Established 1899." Although the note references a specific porcelain material, this item does not appear to be the same piece discussed in the note. According to the Potteries of Trenton Society and D.V. Abramson and T. Karschner's book An Inventory of Historical Engineering and Industrial Sites, Trenton, New Jersey, The Star Porcelain Company operated in Trenton, New Jersey from 1900 to 2002. The company was known for its specialized manufacturing of electrical porcelain, which led to rapid growth during its first two decades. By the late 1970s, they were still producing electrical porcelain before eventually ceasing operations. According to Reliance Potteries, porcelain insulators are crucial for power transmission systems. Their primary function is to prevent electrical current from leaking or short-circuiting, as porcelain is a non-conductive material. Some advantages of porcelain insulators include their ability to withstand both high and low temperatures, minimal environmental impact when disposed of, and their superior electrical strength compared to polymer insulators. Given these benefits, porcelain insulators remain a reliable choice for distributing electricity safely across power systems. Citations: Abramson, D.V. and T. Karschner. 1978. An Inventory of Historical Engineering and Industrial Sites, Trenton, New Jersey. On file, New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJDEP), Trenton, New Jersey. Star Porcelain Company. Potteries of Trenton Society. (n.d.-c). https://potteriesoftrentonsociety.org/research/records/star-porcelain-company-2/ What are the advantages of using porcelain insulators?. Reliance Potteries. (2022, July 15). https://www.reliancepotteries.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-using-porcelain-insulators/ |
Year Range from |
1900 |
Year Range to |
2002 |
Material |
Ceramic, Plastic |
Artist |
Star Porcelain Company |
Height (in) |
6.000 |
Length (in) |
2.250 |
Width (in) |
2.750 |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: A few accretions on the insulators. Some paint bleeding on the bottom of each of the sections of the container. And finally, there are some scratches on the sides of the container |
Inscription Type |
Inscription |
Inscription Location |
First Section |
Inscription Technique |
Embossed |
Inscription Text |
"BIRNBACH" Line 1 475" Line 2 "I.C.A" Line 3 "U.S.A" Line 4 "1965" Line 5 "FLEC" lINE 6 "ELEC" Line 7 "11" Line 8 "Yellow" Line 9 "9D-1850-1" Line 10 "10385" Line 11 Inscription Embossed Second Section "CU" Line 1 "I.C.A" Line 2 "U.S.A" Line 3 "2" Line 4 Inscription Embossed Fourth Section "AB" Line 1 "DC" Line 2 |
Classification |
Business & Commerce Electricity |
Subjects |
Ceramic industry Light fixtures Light bulbs Light Lighting industry Lighting Electricity Electrical apparatus industry Electric lighting Plastics Plastics industry |
Search Terms |
Ceramic Porcelain Insualtor Electricity Electric 1900 2002 19th Century 20th Century 21st Century Star Porcelain Company Circle Cylinder Triangle Rectangle Square Birnbach A B C D Plastic Container Lid Trenton I.C.A U.S.A 1965 CU FLEX ELEC 11 10385 2 Yellow 9D-1850-1 White Black Star Porcelain Company Container of Insulators |
Provenance |
Found in collection |